Operating means for automobile door latches and window regulators



y 1931. L. OTTINGER 1,803,725

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCHES AND WINDOW REGULATORSOriginal Filed July 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l M 6R0: n ma May 5, 1931.OTTINGER 1,303,725

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCHES AND WINDOW REGULATORSOriginal Filed July 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 naw/"tom Leo/2 flffznyerMay 5, 1931. OTTINGER 1,303,725

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCHES AND WIND Ow REGULATORSOriginal Filed July 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Z Z60 01h rage? PatentedMay 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r l LEON o'rTImER, or mzw YORK,N. Y.

Substitute for application Serial No. 294,11

' Serial No.

This invention relates to operating means for automobile door latchesand window regulators, and has for its primary object and purpose toprovide certain desirable improvements in the invention as shownanddescribed in my co-pending application for patent Serial No. 282,426,filed June 2. 1928.

The present application being substituted for an application filed by meon July 20, .928, Serial No. 294,113.

' In my former application, I have disclosed means whereby a singleoperating handle may be'selectively connected at will, either with themechanism of the window regulator,

33 or with the door latch actuating means and in which the saidconnecting means is operated through the medium of a movable button orhead associated with the rotatably supported end of the handle arm.

It is an important feature of my present invention to provide means foractuating the relatively movable connecting means which dispenses withthe use of such an axially shiftable button or head on the handle endand which is arranged and assembled upon the handle arm in such mannerthat the handle when connected with the latch actu ating means hassubstantially the same form and appearance as the ordinary latch handleof an automobile door, and when the handle is connected with the windowoperating mechanism, it has practically the same appearance andstructural characteristics of the usual separate operating handle forthe window as now commonly provided on motor vehicles.

It is also an additional purpose of my present invention to provide suchactuating means on the handle arm for the shiftable connecting meanswhereby the handle may be connected with the window regulator or thelatch mechanism and which will also enable the handle arm to beconveniently used as a pull to in closing the door.

In one desirable and practical embodiment of my present improvements,the rotatably supported end of the handle arm is provided with theaxially shiftable spindle having means for releasably connecting thesame with a part of the latch actuating means and 3, filed July 20,1928. This application filed August 18, 1928.

a part of the window regulator mechanism, as disclosed in my formerapplication and upon the opposite end of the handle arm is mounted apivotable hand grasp member adapted to be thrown so as to make saidhandle operative to actuate the latch or the window regulator, throughmeans preferably as now indicated. \Vithin the handle arm and coactingwith said member and the spindle means are provided for transmittingmovement of said member so as to axially shift the spindle to make thedesired connection.

It is also an object of my present invention to provide means foreffectively obviating lost motion between the several relatively movableparts carried by the handle and which will operate to prevent theiraccidental or unintentional movement and prevent metallic rattling noiseincident to vibration.

It is also a further general object of the invention to improve theoriginal construction shown in my pending application in the particularsabove referred to and which is readily adaptable to such operatinghandles as now used on motor vehicles with a minimum structuralmodification thereof and which will enable the handle connecting meansto be properly operated by the ordinary purchaser without requiringmechanical manipulations of a more or less involved nature.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved op crating means for the door latch and window regulator of anautomobile, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in thesubjoined claims.

In the drawings in which I have illustrated several desirablealternative forms of the essential features of my present improvements,and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

- Figure 1 is an elevational inside View of one v of the front doors ofan automobile showing the present embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. l showing the v condition of the mechanism when the handle isconnected to the door latch actuating means;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the relative positions of the partswhen the operating handle is connected to the window regulator mechanismFig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the end of the handle arm as seenfrom the outer side thereof with the parts disposed as shown in Fig. 2of the drawings;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of the drawings,illustrating an alternative embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the operating handle shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; Y

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a similar section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the shiftable spindle and partscarried thereby;

Fig. 13 is a detail elevation of a part of the latch actuating arm whichhas a bearing on the clutch housing of the window regulator;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail elevation of the hand grasp end of theoperating handle illustrating the mounting and arrangement (Irf thepivoted member in accordance with Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken onthe line 15-45 of Fig. 14; and 1 Fig. 16 is a similar section-taken onthe Y line 16-16 of Fig. 14.

I have shown my invention for the pur- 10885 of illustration, applied tothe forward eft hand door 5tof an automobile of conventional design. Thedoor is provided with a window pane 6 disposed between the outer andinner panels of the door, and supported in suitable grooves in ,theposts of the door. The pane is adapted to be raised or lowered bymechanism incorporated in my invention.

As in my co-pending application this invcntion may be equally applied tothe rear door of a motor vehicle. The front doors are hingedly mountedat their forward vertical edges while the rear doors are hingedlymounted at their rear edges. It will therefore, be apparent that in theapplication of the device to one of the rear doors, only a reversal ofthe arrangement shown in Fig. 1, is required. In both cases of course,the door latch 8 is mounted in a suitable mortise provided in the panel7 at the vertical free edge of the door. This latch may be of varioustypes now in common use, and includes a means for the spring pressedlatch bolt 9. The latch further includes the usual rollback l0 operatedby an exteriorly projecting handle 11. The operating mechanism for thelatch comprises a pivoted lever 12, 12" adapted to retract the bolteither upon suitable movenicnt of the rollback or through meansconstituting a part of my invention.

The rollback 10 bears against the upper end of the lever 12 so that upon0 aeration of the exterior handle the lever will e operated to retractthe bolt. Said lever is yieldingly held in its normal position incontact with the rollback 10 independentlyof the latch bolt 9, by meansof the expansion spring indlcated at 13 surrounding a rod 14 ivotallyconnect: ed to the upper end of t e lever 12, said spring bearing at oneof its ends against the lever and at its other end against a part of thelatch case in which said rod is suitably supported and guided.

It will be understood as this description proceeds that the novelfeatures of my present disclosure may be readily employed in connectionwith many different types of window regulators as well as other forms ofdoor latches than that above described. In the present instance, I haveshown a. more or less well known type of window regulator in which theseveral parts are operatively mounted or supported upon a stamped sheetmetal plate 16 attached to a panel 7 by screws, 17, 17. A peripherallytoothed sector plate 18 is rotatablymounted at 19 on the lower end ofthe supporting plate 16. To this toothed sector, a downwardly extendinarm 20 is suitably riveted, the lower end '0 said arm carrying asuitable roller indicated at 21 moving freely in a channelled guide 22at- Upon the opposite side of the supporting plate 16 a spiral spring 23is arranged and has one of its ends secured to the rotatable pivot 19 ofthe sector 18 while its other end is suitably attached to the plate 16.This spring is placedgmder tension in the downward move-- ment of thewindow 6 and aids inthe lifting or upward movement of said window.

Adjacent to the upper end of the plate 16 a part 24 is struck from theplane thereof and provides a bearing. for the stud shaft of a pinion 25which is in constant meshing engagement with the teeth of'the sectorplate 18. This pinion is carried by one part of a spring friction clutchof conventional type indicated at 26 which is, mounted within the clutchcasing 27, said casing having a flange 28 at one of its ends securelyriveted to the supporting plate 16. The othermember of this clutch is inthe form of a sleeve 29 and for the purposes of my present invention isprovided with a ring gear 30 fixed to one end thereof and provided withinternal cog teeth suitable casing or housing having guide 31. Thepinion25has an axially projecting tached tothe lower edge of the windowglass part 25' with which the other end of the clutch sleeve 29 isconnected.

An arm 32 is riveted or otherwise securely fixed as at 33 to a lateralpro'ection or extension of a ring or annulus 34 w ich loosely surroundsthe clutch housing 27 adjacent to the flange 28 thereof. The arm 32 isprovided with an angularly ofi'set part 35 positioned in spaced parallelrelation to the ring 34 and beyond the inner end of the clutch 26. Thearm 32 extends downwardly at an oblique an le and the end thereof isprovided with a fl anged stud 36 slidablv engaged in the slot 37provided at one end of the bar 38, the other end of which is pivotallyconnected with the latch bolt retracting lever 12 as shown at 39.

The bearing 40 for the operating handle is provided at one of its endswith an offset longitudinal extension or flange 41 of substantiallysemi-circular form riveted at 42 to the inner side of the plate 16, Thearm 35 abutsagainst face 44 of the bearing 40 which preventslongitudinal shifting movement of the ring or annulus 34 upon the wallof the clutch housing 27. It will thus be understood that the arm '32 issupported with its part 35 in concentric relation to the axis ofrotation of the pinion 25, by the rotatable bearing engagement of thering 34 on the clutch casin The bearm 40 has a straight uninterruptedbore 0 the required diameter to receive the reduced end portion 46 ofthe hub extension 45 on one end of the handle arm 47 to support the samefor free rotation. This hub extension 45 of the handle arm is providedwith an axial bore 48 of rectangular form in cross section whichterminates at its inner end within the end of the handle. The reducedend portion of the hub 45 of the handle is counterbored for a shortdistance to provide an annular recess 49 providing a stop shoulder 50,the purpose of which will resently appear. This reduced part of thehandle end 45 within the bearing 40 is further provided with an annulargroove 52 in its periphery for the reception of a locking pin 53 whichis adapted for insertion through registering openings in the wall of thebearing 40 and in the wall of a sheet metal escutcheon sleeve 54, whichsurrounds said bearin and bears at one of its ends. upon the upholsteryindicated at 55 which covers the inner surface of the door and holds theupholstery tightly against the bearing 40. The other end of theescutcheon member terminates in closely opposed relation to the annularshoulder'46' which is formed by the reduced part 46 of the handle end45, the external surface of said end of the escutcheon being flushwith'the surface of the handle end projecting inwardly from the bearin40. The ends of the pin 53 may be swage or expanded so that they Wlllhave a tight frictional fit in the openings of the escutcheon, toprevent the pin from working loose. Preferably however, the smaller endof the conical escutcheon 54 will be rotatably connected with thebearing 40 as indicated in Figs. 6 and 11. Any suitable means may beprovided for holding the es cutcheon member against casual rotation onthe bearing, such as the narrow inturned rib or flange 54' on thesmaller end of the escutcheon which frictionally engages the walls of ashallow annular groove turned in the periphery of the bearing 40. Thusthe escutcheon may be adjusted to position the openings 53 inregistering relation with the openings of the bearing to receive therelatively short'pin 53, said pin being engaged in the groove 52 on thehandle hub and having its ends substantially flush with the outersurface of the bearing 40. The escutcheon member is then turned orrotated on the bearing to position the openings 53' thereof out of linewith the pin as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings so that the pin cannotpossibly become displaced and the handle released from its operativeposition.

Within the rectangular bore of the handle a spindle is slidablymounted.Preferably, though not necessarily, I employ a two part spindleconsisting of an outer elongated heavy sheet metal sleeve '56 having asnug sliding fit in the bore 48. Thisspindle sleeve projects beyond thehub extension 45 of the handle and is freely movable through an opening57 provided in the part 35. At the inner side of the part 35 a plate 59is loosely mounted on the sleeve 56-but is nonrotatable with respectthereto. The opposite walls of the sleeve 56 at its outer end areprovided with outwardly projecting stop lugs 58 which limit the outwardsliding movement of plate 59 on the sleeve. It will be noted that theopening 57 in the part 35 and the plate 59 are of similar eccentricoutline, form or shape with respect to the axis of the spindle. Whilethis opening and the plate may be of various shapes, they are preferablyprovided with opposlte, comparatively long, converging edge surfaceswhich afford an extensive area of contact of the plate 59 against thepart 35.

Within the spindle sleeve 56 the spindle part 60 is mounted for relativesliding movement and projects beyond the outer end of the sleeve 56 andthrough the ring gear 30 into the clutch sleeve 29 and is looselysupported for rotation in the part 25'. Upon this end of the s indie 60a cog or pinion 61 1s fixed or may e integrally formed there- W1Opposite walls of the spindle sleeve 56 are provided with longitudinallyextending slots 90 through which the opposite ends of a transverse'pin91 fixed in the part 60 projects, said pin being located in inwardlyspaced relation from the plate 59 and having its ends posipin '91.

tioned within the counter bore 49 of the handle hub 45. A comparativelylight coil spring 51 surrounds the spindle sleeve 56 and bears at one ofits ends against the plate 59 to yieldingly hold said plate in a normalposition in engagement with the stop. lugs 58. The other end of this sring is engaged against a washer plate 92 wiiich is interposed betweensaid spring and the projecting ends of the Said spring 51 thus also actsto 'ieldingly resist relative sliding movement between the spindle parts56 and 60 and holds the ends of the pin 91 in contact with the innerends of the slots 90.

In the position of the several parts as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings,the spring 51 thus holds the plate 59 in position within the opening 57and in the plane of the part while the cog 61 on the spindle part 60 ispositioned within the clutch sleeve 29 and out of engagement with theteeth 31 of the rin gear 30. For the pur ose of shifting the spindleaxially relative to t e plate 59 to disconnect the outer end of thespindle from the clutch of the window regulator while the plate 59 isout of registration with the opening 57, Iprovide the spring 48 withinthe inner end of the bore 48 acting against the end of the spindle 56 toyieldingly urge the same outwardly through the handle end.

It is thus seen that in this normal condition, the handle arm 47 isconnected with the actuating arm 32 for the door latch, and as will benoted from reference to Fi 2 of the drawings, the handle arm is there ysustained in an upwardly projecting position with respect to its axis ofrotation on the bearing 40.

Therefore, this handle arm is normally in a non-obstructing position,out of the path of movement of the knee of the operator of the 1vehicle.

When it is desired to adjust the window 6,

1 the operating handle 47 is disconnected from the latch actuating meansand connected with the window regulator mechanism b an inward shiftingmovement of the spin; le in the end of the handle, in substantially thesame manner as disclosed in my formerapplication.

In the latter however, this movement was effected by means of-an exposedbutton or head fixed to the inner end of the, s indle and movable withrespect to the handle so that when the connection with the windowregulator was made, the said button or head was inwardly spaced from thehandle end, In my im roved construction, I have entirely avoide thisprojecting operating button and have provided a means which issubstantially entirely concealed within the handle and does notmaterially alter the appearance of the handle from that which iscustomarily provided for the operation of such devices.

In one embodiment of this operating means for the shiftable spindle, Iprovide the handle arm 47 which is preferably longitudinally curved inthe usual wa' so as to aflord adequate space between sai handle and theinner side of the door to permit the handle to be used as a pull to inthe closing of the door, with a member 62 movable with respect to hehandle arm and preferably connected therewith by means of the transversepivot 63. This member is thus pivotally mounted in one end of alongitudinally extending slot or channel 64 open at the side of thehandle opposed to the door and communicating at its other end with theinner end of the bore 48 in the rotatably su ported end of the handle asclearly shown in l ig. 2 of the drawings.

The pivoted end of the member 62 is formed with an eccentric projection65 having angularly related faces 66 and 67 respectively connected bythe curved or convex surface 68. This member is further formed with astop shoulder 69 at one end of the surface 68. Said member is alsoprovided with a rod or shank 70 extending radially with respect to thepivot 63 and upon which the hand grasp 71 is loosely engaged for freerotation.

Within the groove 64 of the handle arm a rlgid longitudinally curvedlever 72 is oscil- V latably mounted intermediate of its ends upon thetransverse pivot pin 73. Longitudinally spaced flanges 75 are struckinwardly from opposite walls of the spindle sleeve 56 at its inner end,thus affording an opening through which one end of the lever 72 may proect, said end of the lever having constant bearlng contact against theopposed faces of the flanges 75. With the other end of this lever themember 62 coacts, and as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, said end ofthe le ver 72 is in bearing engagement with the face 66 of said member62 and opposed to the shoulder 69.

The spring 51, by its expansive pressure agalnst the plate 59 forcingthe spindle sleeve 56 outwardly throu acts to at all times tightly holdthe outer end of the lever 72 in contact with the face 66 and thusmaintain the member 62 and hand grasp 71 in longitudinally projectingrelation to the handle 47 so that to all ap earances, in this positionof the parts, sald constitutes a prolongation or continuation of the arm47 and has its outer end positioned more or less closely adjacent to theinner face of the door. i

With the handle arm thus connected with the latch actuatingmeans by theenga ement of the plate 59 in the opening'57 of t e part 35, the handlearm 47 extends vertically upward from its axis of rotation." In order toretract the latch bolt and opemthe door. in the application of thedevice as shown in Fig. i 1 of the drawings, the handle arm is graspedand pulled rearwardly to the position indicated by the'broken line A.The arm 32 is thus swung downwardly, drawing upon the bar 38, andswinging lever 12 to retract the gh the end of the handle handle memberI convex surface 68 having a rolling bearing When it is desired tooperate the wirldow.

regulator, the member 62 is pivotally moved on the end of the handle arm47 from the position of Fig. 2' to the position shown-in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. In such movement, the eccentric end portion 65 of the member62 coacts with the 'end of the lever 72, the

contact against the inner side of the lever end, thus moving the otherend vof said lever inwardly and sliding the spindlesleeve 56 in .thebore 48 of the operating handle. By reason of the pin.91 inthe spindlepart 60 and the spring 51 interposed between said pin and plate 59, thepart 60 is also axially moved as a unit with the sleeve 56 so that asthe plate 59 is thus disengagedffron the part 35, the cog gear 61' iscaused to'mesh with the teeth of the ring gear 30. However, in the eventthat the teeth of said gear are not in proper position for meshingengagement with the teeth 31, the spindle sleeve 56 will be movedrelative to the part 60, the spring 51 being placed under compression.Thus after plate 59 has been disengaged from the part 35 by a slightfurther rotation of the handle 47, proper registration of the teeth ofgear 61 with the spaces between the teeth of gear 30 will be-obtainedwhereupon the spring 51 will expand to shift the spindle part 60 to itsnormal position and thus cause the properly meshed engagement of gear 61with gear 30. Accordingly it will be evident that in any radial positionof the handle 47 its disconnection from the latch mechanism may beeffected and without liability of damage to the parts of the mechanism.

When the parts are disposed in such po sitions as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings, the axis of the hand grasp'71 carried by the member 62 is thendisposedin an angular inwardly. projecting position relative to the endof the handle arm 47 and the angular face 67 of the member 62 is inbearingthe operating handle and the'window' regu-;

lator mechanism and to-again establish the connection of said handlewith thelatch actuating means, it is necessary to return the handle arm47 to the upwardly extending position from its bearing 40 so=that theplate 59 will be positioned "to register with the opening 57. -However,the hand grasp 71 may be returned to the longitudinally prosaid bar.

The memjecting position of Fig. 2. in any radially extending position.ofthe handle arm 47 with respect to; the bearing 40. The spring 48 .thenacts to instantly force the spindle sleeve outwardlyand disconnect thecog 61 from the ring gear 30 while the plate 59 being 'out ofregistration with'the opening 57 in arm 35 is yieldingly urged againstthe inner face of said arm by means of the spring 51. This plate has asnug sliding fit on the rectangular spindle sleeve 56 and when thehandle arm is thereafter further rotated to dispose the same in theupwardly extending vertical position as shown in Fig. 2, the spring 51then acts to force the plate 59 longitudinally of the spindle and intothe opening 57, such independent movement of the plate being limited bythe stop lugs. This outward the movement of the hand grasp 71 from theposition seen in Fig. 3 to the extended position in Fig. 2 and bearingcontact is maintained between the flanges 75 on the spindle sleeve andthe inner end of the lever 72 so that the other end of said lever willbe urged into close contact against the surface 66 ot' the part 62. i

. I also provide means for locking the door latch. by a movement of thehandle arm 47 so that the latch bolt cannot be retracted by'operation ofthe outside door handle, the said locking means being substantially thesame as that shown in my former application. Thus the bar 38 adjacentits connection with the arm 32 is provided upon its upper edge on theplate 16. Thus, when the handle arm 47 is moved inthe opposite directionfrom that necessary to retract the bolt, and to substantially theposition indicated by the broken line'B, the arm 32 is swung upwardly,and the end of the bar 38 is lifted to position the shoulder 76 inopposed relation to the lug 77 and in the path of movement of Thus sincethe retraction movement istransmitted to the latch bolt 9 from theoutside handle by the rollback 1O bearing against the upper end of thelevel--12,- it will be evident that silch movement of the lever isprevented, as theslotted end of the bar 38 cannot shift relative to thepin 36.

movement of the spindle under the action of In the normal position ofthe parts as shown in Fig.- 1, the latch bolt may be freely ire--tracted by the outside handle without movement of the inside handle,arm'47, since the slotted end of'the bar 38 may shift 'freely on thestud or 'pin 36. Also it will be noted that if the handle arm 47 ismoved to the locking position B while the door is. open, the door may beforcibly closed or.

slammed without injury to the latch mechanism, as the bolt 9 will berepressed into the latch case relative to the lever 12, asthe end ofthe. bolt moves over the inclined-face of the strike.

The handle arm 47 is yieldingly ietained in the locked position B bymeans ofa spring pressed latch pin 77 which engages in a notch or recess35 formed -in the perimeter of the part 35. From reference to Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, it. will be observed that-the hand grasp 71 projects abovethe panel 7 and is visible from the exterior of the door through thewindow glass (3 so that by observing the angular relation'between thishand grasp and the horizontal window sill, it may be ascertained whetheror not the latch bolt aetuatiing; mechanism is locked.

In Fig. (101 the drawings, I have illustrated an alternative embodimentof the invention which permits of thedisconnection of the handle arm.47'from the window regulator mechanism in any radially projecting positionof said handle arm with respect to the bearing 40, at which rotation ofthe arm may be stopped in the adjust ment of the window." In thisconstruction the outer end of the rectangular spindle. 56" is providedwith a transversely movable rectangular pin. 78 which is yieldinglyurged outwardly beyond one face of the spindle by the spring 79. Theouter end ofthis pin'has an inwardly facing sIopingorihcIined surface 80and a relatively short outwardly facing inclined .surface 81. The wallof the opening in the'part 3 5 at the inner face thereof has a narrowannular beveled sur face 82 and the notch or recess in the part 35 atthe upper side of. said opening ispro- "vided with the inclined basewall 83 ext-endscribed, but in this constructioml havev shownthe coilspring 48 interposed between the base of the bore 48in the end of thehandle arm and the opposed end of the spindle. which is of one piececonstruction, having a reduced outer end to whi h gear 61 is fixed. Theother end of the spindle provided with the opening 74 having opposedconvex faces 75"against which one 'end of the lever 72 bears.

The lever'iZ is mounted in the handle arm and connected with the spindle56' as before described, but in this construction, the end of the handlearm is bifurcated to receive the pivoted member 62' carrying the handgrasp 71, said member being in the form of a disc and having acircumferential groove or recess 84 extending through an areofapproximately 90.

Suitable friction washers indicatedat 85 are arranged upon thepivot ofthe member 62 between the opposite side faces of said memberand thespaced parts of the bifurcated end of the handle arm. The endof thelever 72 is at-all times positioned within the notch or; recess 8* ofthe member 62'. \Vhen the handle arm is connected with thelatchactuating means as shown inFig. 6 of the drawings, the outer end ofthe spring pressed pin 7811s engaged in the notch orrecess of the part35, the spring 79 hold ing the inclined surface 80 of said pin in.

bearing contact with theinclined surface 83 of said part. Thus, theopposite side faces of said pin have an appreciable area of bearingcontact against the opposed Side walls in the drawings, and one endwallof the recess 84 engages the end of the lever 7 2 and moves said leverto the dotted line position,-

thus drawing the spindle 56' inwardly against the pressufe of the spring48'. p The surface 80 ofthe pin 78 riding upon the inclined surface 83of thepart 35'causes the pin to'be forced inwardly against the action ofthe spring 7950 that said pin is disengaged from the notch or recess andwithdrawn from the opening in the part as the cog gear on the spindleextension ismoved into mesh with the teeth of the ring gear 30. Thehandle arm can then be rotated to adjust the window as desired; Aftersuch adjustment, and in any radial position of the handle arm, the handgrasp 71 is moved to its longitudinally extending position, thuspermit-ting the spring 18 to act'upon the spindle and force the sameoutwardly.

The inclined surface 81 on the pin 78 will.

.ride upon the annular inclined surface 82 Of the part '35 to force thepin inwardly.

When it is de{ the pin is not inli no with the notch or recess in thepart 35, its outer end will simply ride upon the wall of the opening insaid part as" the handle arm is swung upwardly to its verticallyextending position, and when said pin is in alignment with the notch orrecess, the spring 79 will then project the same outwardly into saidnotch, thereby establishing the connection with the latch actuating arm32 and sustaining the handle arm 47 in the upwardly extending positionrelative to its bearing 40. i

In Figs. 14, 15 and 16 of'the drawings,

have illustrated a semi-automatic means for Thus, as.

86 one end of which is fixed to the part 62', and the other end of whichis suitably secured to the arm 47. There is'also mounted in the handlearm, at one side of the groove or channel 64 a spring pressed )in 87having a conical end portion adapted for engagement in a correspondinglyformed seat or cavity 88 in the periphery of the member 62'. Thus itwill be understood that the spring 86 acts to normally project the handgrasp 71 to the longitudinally extending position relative to the arm 47as shown in full lines in Fig. 6. \Vhen moved from this position to thedotted line position, the rotation of the part 62 places the spring 86under tension and the pin 87 is engaged in the seat or recess 88 andacts to partially counteract the action of the springs 86 and 48'.However, since in this position of the hand grasp for operating thewindow regulator. a positive hold thereon is maintained in the rotationof the handle arm 47, by the use of the holding )in 87 as an aid inovercoming the action of t e springs 86 and 48, the resisting pressureof the hand grasp against the hand of the operator will be practicallyunnoticeable.

In each of the constructions above described, the parts of the windowregulator and the bearing 40 may first be assembled upon the supportingplate 16 and applied to the door together with the latch operatingconnections. The spindle 56 is indcpei'idently assembled in the end hubextension of the handle arm 47 and said extension then inserted from theinner side of the door into the bearing 40, the projecting end of thespindle passing through the opening 57 in the part 35 and the cog piniontil entering the clutch sleeve 29 while the reduced end of the spindleis engaged in the bore of the part 25'. in the upwardly extendingposition relative to the bearing, the plate 59 or pin 78 carried by thespindle is operatively engaged with the part 35, thereby connecting thehandle with the latch actuating means. It is then only necessary toinsert the key pin 53 through the escutcheon plate 54 and into theannular groove 52, thereby rotatably locking the handle end inconnection with the bearing 40. It 'will be apparent that this operativeassemblage of the several parts of the device upon the door structuremay be very easily and quickly performed by unskilled labor.

By the provision of my new operating means for the slidable spindle asherein described, the exposed surfaces of the handle armremain smoothand unbroken and may be provided with any suitable surfaceornamentation. The handle arm 47 maybe used in the ordinary manner as apull to for closing the door, and without danger of the accidentaldisconnection of the handle from the latch actuating means and itsconnection to the The handle arm being disposed window regulator. Alsoas the handle arm in its normal position extends upwardly above thebearing 40, this arm will never be in the way or constitute anobstruction to the free movement of the operators knee in themanipulation of the clutch pedal. The hand grasp 71 extendinglongitudinally l'rom t,he

free end of the handle arm, has the appear-- ance of an ornamentalterminal or continuation of said arm. The lever member 72 fortranslating the pivotal movement of this hand grasp into a rectilinearsliding movement of the spindle is housed within a comparatively narrowgroove centrally formed in the handle arm, and as seen in Fig. 9 of thedrawings, the edges of this groove at the outer face of said arm arerounded so that in grasping the handle arm, no discomfort will beoccasioned thereby. Since the plate 59 is normally urged inwardly bymeans of the spring 51 to position for connecting the handle with thelatch actuating means, after the window regulator has been operated, itis only necessary to start the pivotal l'flOVOlllOllt of the hand grasp71 towards its longitudinally extended position, such movement of saidmember being continued by the expansive action of the spring 48. Thus,the re-cstablishment of the normal operating connection bctwecn thehandle and the latch actuating means is scmi-automatic. l haveparticularly referred herein to a preferable mounting and arrangement ofthe cooperating parts for actuating the spindle 5t and have disclosedseveral difl'erent forms of the pivoted member on the free end of thehandle arm for coaction with the lever element 72. It is however.possible that various other alternatives for the described form andconstruction of these cooperating parts may be devised, as well as otherspecific means carried by the sliding spindle for selectivelyestablishing the opc1 ative connection between the operating handle andthe window regulator or latch act uating mechanism. It is accordingly tobe understood that in the further practical development of theinvention. the privilege is reserved of resorting to all such legitimatemodifications in the structural details of the various elements as maybe fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with an automobile d or latch and Window regulatoreach having an actuating element, a single operating handle thereforrotatably mounted at one of its ends on the door, and means forselectively cstablishing an operative connection between said handle andthe door latch or the window regulator, said means including a spindlerotatable as a unit with the handle and movable in the line of its axis.said spindle having means for releasable connection with therespectiveactuating elements, said means consisting of an operating member for thewindow regulator and an operating member for the latch movable relativeto each other and rotating as a unit with said spindle, a springyieldingly urging the latter member in one direction to normallymaintain an operative connection between the same and the latchactuating means, and means carried by the handle for moving said spindlein the'opposite direction to disconnect the handle from the latchactuating element and establish an operative connection between saidhandle and the window regulator.

2'. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulatoreach having an actuating element, a single operating handle thereforrotatably mounted at one of its ends on the door, and means forselectively establishing an operative connection between said handle andthe door latch or the window regulator, said means including a spindle.rotatable as a unit with the handle and movable in the line of its axis,said spindle having means for releasable connection with the respectiveactuating elements, said means consisting of an operating member for thewindow regulator and an operating member for the latch movable relativeto each other and rotating as a unit with the spindle, a springyieldingly urging the latter member in one direction to normallymaintain an operative connection between the same and the latchactuating means, said handle including an arm projecting laterally fromthe handle axis, a relatively movable part carried by said handle arm,and means for translating a movement of said part with respect to the.handle arm into a sliding movement of said spindle in the oppositedirection to disconnect the handle from the latch actuating element andestablish an operative connection between said' handle and the windowregulator.

3. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulatoreach having an actuating element, a single operating handle thereforrotatably mounted at one of its ends on the door, and means forselectively establishing an operative connection between said handle andthe door latch or the window regulator, said means including a spindlerotatable as a unit with the handle and movable in the line of its axis,said spindle having means for releasable connection with the respectiveactuating elements, said means consisting of an operating member for thewindow regulator and an operating member for the latch movable relativeto each other and rotating as a unit with the spindle, a springyieldingly urging the latter member in one direction to normallymaintain an operative connection between the same and the Eatchactuating means, said handle including an arm projecting laterally fromthe handle axis, a relatively movable part mounted on the end of saidhandle arm, and additional movable means mounted on the handle armactuated by said part in its movement in one direction and coacting withsaid spindle to axially move the same in one direction and disconnectthe operating handle from the latch actuating element and establish anoperative connection between the handle and the winilow regulator.

4. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulatoreach having an actuating element, a single operating handle thereforrotatably mounted at one of its ends on the door, and means forselectively establishing an operative connection between said handle andthe door latch or the window regulator, said means including a spindlerotatable as a unit with the handle and movable in the, line ofits'axis, said spindle having means for releasable connection with therespective actuating elements, said means consisting of an operatingmember for the window regulator and an operating member for the latchmovable relative to each other and rotating as a unit with the spindle,a spring yieldingly urging the latter member direction to normallymaintain an in one operative connection between the same and the latchactuating means, said handle including an arm projecting laterally fromthe handle axis, a relatively movable part mounted on the end of saidhandle arm, and a lever member pivotally mounted intermediate of itsends upon the handle arm, said part coacting with one end of said memberin the movement of said part in one direction to actuate said member,the other end of the lever member being operatively engaged. with saidspindle to axially move the same and disconnect the handle from thelatch actu 1 ating element and establish an operative connection betweenthe handle and the window regulator.

5. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator, asingle operating handle therefor, means for selectively establishing anoperative connection at will between said handle and the door latch orwindow regulator, said means including a movable part having means forreleasable connection with parts of the window regulator and latchactuating means respectively, means for rotatably mounting said handleupon the door, said handle having an arm projecting laterally in angularrelation to its axis of rotation, and means carried by the handle armfor manual operation independently thereof including an element ope-'-atively connected with said part for actnating the latter.

6. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator. asingle operating handle therefor, means for rotatably mounting saidhandle at one end upon a door, a member mounted in said end of thehandle 180 for movement relative thereto and having spaced means forreleasable connection respectively with the door latch and Windowregulator, and said handle having an arm projecting laterally in angularrelation to its axis of rotation, and means mounted upon the handle armfor manualoperation independently thereof including an elementoperatively connected with said movable member to actuate the latter. 7

7. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator, asingle operating handle therefor, means for rotatably mounting saidhandle at one end upon a door, a member mounted in said end of thehandle for movement relative thereto and having spaced means forreleasable connection respectively with the door latch and windowregulator, and said handle having an arm projecting laterally in angularrelation to its axis of rotation, a part movably mounted on the end ofthe handle arm for operation independently thereof, and additional meansmounted on the handle arm actuated by said part and operativelyconnected with said movable member to actuate the latter.

8. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator, asingle operating handle therefor, means for rotatably mounting saidhandle at one end upon a door, a member mounted in said end of thehandle for movement relative thereto and having spaced means forreleasable connection respectively with the door latch and windowregulator, and said handle having an arm projecting laterally in angularrelation to its axis of rotation, a part movably mounted on the end ofthe handle arm for operation independently thereof and an additionalelement carried by the handle arm extending longitudinally thereofhaving one of its ends engaged by said movable part for actuationtherebyupon movement of said part relative to the handle arm, and theother end of said element being operatively connected with said movablemember to actuate the latter.

9. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator, asingle operating handle therefor, means for rotatably mounting saidhandle at one'end upon a door, a member mounted in said end of thehandle for movement relative thereto and having spaced means forreleasable connection respectively with the door latch and windowregulator, and said handle having an arm projecting laterally in angularrelation to its axis of rotation, a hand grasp pivotally mounted on theend of the handle arm movable from a longitudinally extending positionto an angular position relative to the arm for rotating the handle inthe operation of the window regulator, and means mounted on said handlearm operatively connected with said movable member and operated bycoacting means on said hand grasp in the pivotal movements of the latterto actuate said member.

10. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator, asingle operating handle therefor consisting of a handle arm, means forrotatably supporting'said arm at one of its ends upon a door, means forestablishing an operative connection at will between said handle and thedoor latch or the window regulator, said means including a spindleaxially movable in the rotatably mounted end of the handle, a hand grasppivotally mounted on the other end of the handle arm and movable from aposition in longitudinally extending relation thereto to a laterallyprojecting position for rotating the handle in the operation of theWindow regulator, and additional means movably mounted on the handle armoperatively connected with said spindle and coacting with means on thehand grasp whereby said spindle is actuated in the pivotal movements ofthe hand grasp.

11. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator, asingle operating handle therefor consisting of a handle arm, means forrotatably supporting said arm at one of its ends upon a door, means forestablishing an operative connection at will between said handle and thedoor latch or the window regulator, said means including a spindleaxially movable in the rotatably mounted end of the handle, a hand grasppivotally mounted on the other end of the handle arm and movable from aposition in longitudinally extending relation thereto to a laterallyprojecting position for rotating the handle in the operation of thewindow regulator, said handle arm having a longitudinally extendinggroove therein, a lever fulcrumed intermediate of its ends within saidgroove, one end of said lever being operatively engaged with saidspindle, and means on the hand grasp coacting with the other end of saidlever in the pivotal movements of the hand grasp to oscillate the leverand transmit an axial movement to said spindle.

12. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulator, asingle operating handle therefor rotatably mounted at one of its ends onthe door, andimeans for selectively establishing an operative connectionbetween said handle and the door latch or the window regulator, saidmeans including a spindle rotatable as, a unit with the handle. andmovable in the line of its axis, a member carried by one end of saidspindle for releasable connection with a part of the window regulator, alatch actuating arm through which said spindle extends having an openingtherein provided with opposed edges extending in angular relation to theaxis of the spindle, a member rotatable with said spindle and movableaxially thereon, stop means limiting the axial movement of said memberon the spindle in one direction, a spring coacting with said member toyieldingly resist independent movement in the opposite direction and tourge said member to a normal position within the opening of said latchactuating arm to establish an operative connection between said arm andthe handle when said handle is rotated to a predetermined position, anadditional spring mounted in the handle coacting with the spindle tomove the same axially relative to said latter member when the latter isout of registration with the opening in said arm and thereby disconnectthe spindle from the window regulator, and means mounted on the handlefor axially moving the spindle in the opposite direction to disconnectthe same from said latch actuating arm and establish an operativeconnection between the spindle and the Window regulator. I

13. In combination with an automobile door latch and window regulatoreach having an actuating element, a single operating handle thereforrotatably mounted at one. of its ends on the door and means forselectively establishing an operative connection between said handle andthe door latch or window regulator, said means including a two partspindle rotatable as a unit with the handle and movable in the line ofits axis. said spindle parts each having a means for releasableconnection with the respective actuating elements, means mounted on thehandle arm' for axially moving said spindle parts as a unit to establishan operative connection of one of said means with one of the actuatingelements and simultaneously disconnect the other of said means from theother actuating element, and means yieldably permitting relative axialmovement between the spindle parts in the unitary axial movement of thespindle in one direction.

14. The combination with a window regulator and a latch, of an operatinghandle therefor, a pivotable hand grasp thereon, and means actuated bysaid hand grasp selectively operatively connecting said handle to saidregulator or said latch.

15. The combination with a window regulator and a latch, of an operatinghandle therefor, pivotable means associated with said handle, and aspindle actuated thereby selectively operatively connecting said handleto said regulator or said latch.

16. The combination with a window regulator and a latch, of an operatinghandle therefor, a pivotable'ha'nd grasp thereon,

and a spindle actuated thereby selectively operatively connecting saidhandle to said regulator or said latch.

17. The combination with a window regulator and a latch, of an operatinhandle therefor, a pivotable hand grasp t ereon, a pivotable leveractuated thereby, arTd means actuated in turn by said lever selectivelyophereto.

LEON OTTINGER.

